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Nathan & Elizabeth: An Epic Love
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Chapter Seventy
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Thursday of Wedding Week
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Part V
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"I'm going to be a Veterinarian, Papa!"
"Are you sure, Allie," asked Nathan, while also breaking out into a huge smile.
"I am, Papa! I'm very sure!" answered Allie with conviction and pride. "It's what I want to do!"
"Then that's perfect! I didn't want to influence you and was trying so hard not to say anything! But Allie, that's exactly what I've seen you doing from the time you were a toddler! The way you have always been with animals is such a special gift that very few people have! I'm so proud of you and your decision!"
"You are?"
"I am so very proud! Couldn't be prouder. You've made a very grown-up decision, Allie. And a very well-thought-out one as well, based on our previous discussions. Veterinary medicine is also an impressive career choice, serving both animals and the owners who love and care for them. One you can be very proud of. Now you know exactly what you need to work toward to make your dream come true," assured Nathan.
"And that's where I come in, Allie! Though, I agree with your Papa, we both couldn't be prouder! I'll have to start getting some special classes together for you to take this coming year so you can stay ahead of the admissions process. Even though I know we're still a year or two away, it's never too early to begin!"
"You'd do that for me, Mama?"
"I will enjoy every single minute of doing that for you and be so proud of you the entire time! But your father's right, Allie. Never keep something that important inside, just sit us down and say you need to talk. We'll be more than thrilled to help you any way we can. I feel badly that we didn't realize you had something as huge as this on your mind to sort through all this time! When we return from our Honeymoon, we'll definitely have a big celebratory night out for the family to officially celebrate your decision!"
"That sounds perfect and like a lot of fun! Can Uncle Bill come, too? And maybe some of my friends?"
"He absolutely will be there!" smiled Elizabeth. "As well as any and all friends you would like. In fact, I think we should just make it a big family and friend party! Our first!"
Simultaneously, Nathan and Elizabeth both rose to congratulate and embrace their beautiful daughter on her momentous decision, with Jack not fully understanding why, but joining in by doing the same anyway.
"Papa, is my first Mama proud too?" asked Allie hesitantly in a low voice, but needing to know her father's thoughts.
"Allie, I have no doubt she is so extraordinarily proud of your choice. She always knew how much you loved your animals, along with everyone else's. I believe she's known all along what your choice would end up being, and I know she couldn't possibly be prouder of you!"
Allie hugged her Papa again, both shedding a few tears, but tears of happiness.
"But what does this mean, Allie?" asked Jack.
"This means that eventually, when Scout gets sick again, and as inquisitive as he is we all know he will, we won't have to call his vet, Jack, all the way in Brookfield."
"We won't?" asked Jack. "But who will we call?"
"Me! Because I'll be his veterinarian!" grinned Allie, tickling her little brother. "Well at least when I graduate college, I will be!"
"She'll be Dr. Allie Grant, Son!" explained Nathan, thrilled to be the first one to use what would someday be his daughter's title.
Now with all that, Jack understood, and clapped excitedly!
"Will you take care of all our horses, too, Allie? And kittens, too, if we have them? And ducks, too?"
"I will, Jack! I'll take care of all our animals and pets!"
Nathan and Elizabeth could see both the commitment and excitement in their daughter's eyes, and both were close to proud tears seeing her so happy and self-assured, especially after she had been through so much pain with Dylan's rejection.
"What an extraordinary Pre-Wedding Gift this is, Allie! Honestly, your Mama and I couldn't be happier or prouder. Let's be sure and tell both sets of your grandparents and your Auntie Julie while they are still here, too," suggested her Papa.
"Tell Auntie Julie what?" as Julie theatrically burst through the front door after a single knock.
"Wait, I'm getting ahead of myself! This is your news, Allie, so it's up to you when you wish to share it," iterated her Papa.
"No, Papa, I'd love to tell all my family, now that you and Mama know! Auntie Julie, I'm going to be a Veterinarian!"
"Oh, Allie, that is so exciting! But you still have to paint," begged her Auntie Julie while hugging her ever so tightly, having already recognized her niece's great artistic talent.
"I will always paint, Auntie Julie, and I've been thinking about that too. I want to illustrate veterinarian textbooks because I can't find any now with paintings or pictures in them, just little diagrams that don't look too exciting! I know because Papa took me to the big library in Union City and we looked through all of them."
"That's a genius idea! Then I'll help you! And I'll start keeping track of all our animal prints, so I can keep miniature copies on cards for you to have as a reference!"
"That would be so great! Thank you, Auntie Julie – that's super fantastic!"
"I really do have a genius for a daughter! Allie, what an extraordinary idea! And I will help in any way I possibly can, as well. If you'd like, I can toss out the idea to my publishing company when you get to that stage."
"That would be phenomenal, Mama!"
"Is it 'pressive, Mama?"
"Very impressive, Son, just like your medal!"
"Papa, Gramma made your favorite apple crisp for dessert! Shall I go get it?"
"No! Let me, Allie!" insisted Elizabeth, heading toward the kitchen.
Not wanting to leave his excited children, Nathan watched, so proud of them and Julie too, whom both Allie and Jack obviously adored as they enthusiastically chatted and teased back and forth with their Auntie Julie.
After a few minutes, Elizabeth came out with a tray full of individual servings of apple crisp. But there were two candles, one each in Allie's and Jack's servings.
"Nathan, would you do the honor of lighting our celebratory candles – one is for Jack's impressive medal, and one is for Allie's momentous life decision!"
As Nathan lit the candles, the children felt so excited and loved. Adoption or not, these four were already family, and they couldn't be happier.
Even Julie could clearly see it and feel it.
And it was such a beautiful thing, something she had been unsure her sister would ever have again, yet here they all were bound together in abundant love, as though it had been fated in the stars, long, long ago.
'Someday,' thought Julie. 'This is what I want more than anything in this world…'
"Julie, why don't you and Jack walk Allie home so she can spend some alone time with her Gramma and Grappa, and then, if you don't mind, bring Jack back and get him to bed, preferably minus his Mountie uniform?" reminded Elizabeth firmly, though in a low voice, since Allie and Jack were at the other side of the room playing a game.
Julie laughed.
"Sure, give me the hardest job in the world, Sis, and without Allie here as reinforcements!"
"Oh, sorry! I didn't think about that!"
"Just a sec," suggested Allie, overhearing and taking the sisters' hint. "Jack, can you come with me so I can tell you a secret?"
"Sure, I love secrets!"
As the two went off to the kitchen for some privacy, Elizabeth and Julie finished their conversation.
"Seriously, Ellabeth, I'll manage somehow, but he is glued into that new uniform!"
Elizabeth sighed.
"I know, and if you can't get him to take it off, I'll do it after he goes to sleep!"
But soon, back came Allie with Jack, both all smiles.
"Jack and I are going upstairs so he can change into his regular clothes! Is that okay, Mama?"
"That is miraculous! That is way more than okay, but…"
"Don't ask, Elizabeth! Better we don't know," suggested Julie. "I told you. I knew if Jack was going to listen to anyone, it would be his sister and most certainly not the two of us!"
"Thank goodness for Allie! Remind me to tell my new daughter just how priceless she is…"
Alone again, back on their favorite steeds, Nathan and Elizabeth were thrilled and melancholy all at once, not wanting their night to come to an end.
"No sadness, Love! We have a while to go before we part, and we are going to make the most of it," winked Nathan. "Hey, want to ride in the moonlight and see the new bridge they just finished?"
"Oh, I would love that!"
Elizabeth thought a moment and remembered earlier this afternoon when Nathan had been so transparent with her. And in remembering, she instantly knew she needed to be the same. Though her throat caught at the thought of saying the words out loud.
But she swallowed hard and bravely began.
"Nathan, you are always so honest with me, and just like today, so transparent. I have to be the same with you. The old bridge doesn't hold good memories for me, because of the time I wasted there with Lucas, when I should have been with you. I'm so ashamed."
"No, Lizbeth. That hadn't even entered my mind. Here, let's turn around!"
"No, Nathan! I don't want to be sick when I have those awful flashbacks. I was thrilled when the town council decided to tear the thing down because of all the safety issues it had. It's new, and I want to erase the old and make new memories on our town's new bridge with you!"
"Are you certain?"
"So very certain!"
Nathan gave her a reassuring smile, then remembered his tale of that bridge.
"You know, that old bridge was the site of my very first case here in Hope Valley – the Stagecoach robbery! One of the wheels had gone down through the planks of wood, they were so rotten. But truthfully, given how dilapidated the whole structure was even back then, I was shocked the whole coach hadn't ended up in the river, passengers and all!"
Elizabeth had a look of horror on her face.
"Lizbeth, that was then! This is now. I've already seen the new structure in broad daylight. Not only is it entirely different and more beautiful than it ever thought about being before, but it is also now structurally sound, thank goodness!"
"Is it true they ended up partially covering it?"
"Yes, most of it actually, and the way they did it is really beautiful, also much safer in the winter months as the structure will keep the snow off the roadway, and of course the rain in the summer months, which will also make for safer passage."
As they headed further toward the new Bridge, both noticed the newly lit lampposts added and placed along the entire new structure.
"I don't remember the Town Council naming it," mused Elizabeth. "But it is very beautiful, especially at night with all the new lighting!"
"I say we name it 'Our Bridge!'" winked Nathan.
"I like that – it is now officially the Grant Bridge whenever we are on it. Or more specifically, 'Our Bridge!'"
And with the moonlight shining just so on her face, he could see in some strange way, this little unplanned jaunt of theirs was beginning to heal her.
"Will the horses be okay for us to ride them across?"
"Absolutely they will! The new bridge can hold two stagecoaches and their teams of horses if needed! Though that's highly unlikely."
As they rode across and came under the structure covering most of the bridge, they were both enchanted to find lights throughout underneath the roof.
Upon reaching the very middle, they slowed their horses so they could pause to look out over the river through the huge open arch on both sides.
Nathan dismounted first, then lifted Elizabeth down from Sergeant, but they couldn't part, staying connected as always while heading to the side of the bridge.
"This is amazing, Nathan! Absolutely incredible! Is it my imagination, or does it feel higher?"
"It is higher, Love, given the slight incline at each end! And a very long way from my first case, that's for sure! Look at the river. It's so calm tonight!"
"That, my Dearest Love, is because you are with me!" and in saying so, she realized the waters had always been turbulent when she had been on the old bridge with Lucas.
Now, thanks to Lucas's confession, and Nathan's steadfast love, she knew the million reasons as to why.
Suddenly, the past all washed away.
And at that very moment, Nathan bent to kiss her, seeing the hunger she had for him and him alone.
Their kiss was meteoric, like no other either had previously experienced, filled with an explosion of matching emotions from desire to longing, to fulfillment, to pure ecstasy! And to a loving assurance of their many lifetime adventures to come. All, simply because they were meant to be with each other forever.
"Did we just replicate our entire love story in this single kiss, my Love?" asked Elizabeth in a whisper.
"How do you mean?"
"True love's transformative power to conquer all, no matter how insurmountable it might first appear to be!"
"We've only begun, my Darling! As in giving us this simple moment and turning it into something romantically mesmerizing and completely unforgettable…"
As they traveled on via horseback, Elizabeth was, as always, trying to figure out what was coming next.
But Nathan was remaining quiet, very contented, and very calm.
And as his inner contentment and outer calm demeanor were entirely contagious, she totally relaxed, too. For the truth was, it didn't matter where they went to exchange their Wedding Gifts, which they had stored in their saddlebags. All that mattered was that the two of them were alone together.
Elizabeth knew her beloved well enough by now that she knew she was not going to be disappointed.
And really, how could they possibly go wrong under the stars?
When Elizabeth realized they were headed toward a space very special to the both of them, she almost gasped, as they hadn't been there together for a very long time.
Yet, how very right this felt!
Leave it to Nathan to always know the best possible option where their love and romance were concerned.
"Welcome to our final destination of the night, my Darling!" he smiled, helping her down from Sergeant once more, then placing their lanterns.
"Oh, Nathan, the place you asked me what was in my heart!"
"I remember that day like it was yesterday. You looked so beautiful with the sun shining down on the dock and on you. I remember the rays glistening through the locks of your hair, splaying in different directions all at once! You looked other-worldly. Angelic is the word!"
She sighed contentedly, astounded by their love.
"I only remember how distractingly handsome you looked!"
"Do you have any idea how hard it was for me that day to turn away from you and Jack and gallop off on Newton, leaving my entire heart behind me, right here on this very dock with you holding it in the palm of your hands?"
"Oh, Nathan, my Love! I am so deeply sorry I didn't just blurt out the truth that very day! It was you in my heart, as my book clearly showed. Even in my book, I chose you, and I will always, always choose you, and only you!"
"Dance with me, Lizbeth! Dance with me under the stars on this eve of our Wedding!"
He took her hand formally and drew it to his heart, which always caused her to gasp a little in the best of ways. Never had she felt so loved as when he did that. And she wasn't even sure he was aware of his action, believing instead it was simply their love that caused him to automatically draw them together like that!
"I want to always dance with you and only you, and whenever we can dance under the moon and stars, all the better. This is heaven on earth, my Darling Lizbeth!"
She tightened her arm around him and lifted her hand up from his strong shoulder to slip into those dark curls at the nape of his neck, holding him in that most loving manner the rest of their dance.
"I hear the music, Nathan! The music of the world, the chirping of the crickets, the occasional hoot of the owls, the slight swishing of the water, and even the wind blowing about us. But louder than all of that, I hear the music within us. I hear our love!"
"I feel it all, Lizbeth; I hear it and see it all, too!"
Then he bent to kiss her in the moonlight, unable to not touch her perfect, silky lips.
And there was their beautiful and intimate taste of each other in this kiss of such longing.
All their senses, including the scent of each other, were on full display, simply emphasizing their love in a most unique way, beyond mortal comprehension.
Elizabeth started to say something, then stopped. But once again, Nathan's complete transparency came back to her. So, she rose to the occasion, too, attempting to explain something she herself did not quite understand.
"You know, Darling, Jack used to always say 'Take a walk with me,' and you have too at times, but you know what you mostly say to me that is yours alone?"
"What is that, Love?"
"'Dance with me!' And it makes me feel like I get to inseparably dance through life with you in the most enchanting of ways!"
"We get to dance through life with each other, Darling! Through the sunshine, through the storm, through the rain, through the snow, through the daytime, and the nighttime. Always with you!"
"I am so blessed! When you say those three simple words, it's like our real world is suddenly suspended in time, and it's just you and me, ever so intimately bound together, no words necessary unless we desire them. And without any inhibition between us, we can simply succumb to the music of our hearts, losing ourselves in the moment with time standing still for just the two of us alone. When you say 'dance with me,' my Love, in my heart, you are promising me that though we are two, with you, I'll never be alone, as though our duet of a dance will go on and on singularly throughout our lifetime, fulfilling our dreams, and beyond, even as we pass through eternity together, still dancing."
She could see the tender smile of complete love and understanding on his face, and he had never looked more handsome to her than at this moment.
But at the same time, to him, she had never looked more beautiful, more enchanting.
They entangled themselves in a most profound kiss, the depths of which were only understood by them, the beauty of which would have been seen by anyone observing, but this was theirs alone.
When they separated for breath, he got that boyish, lop-sided grin on his face that literally made her weak in her knees even in daylight, much less under the luminosity of moonlight.
"I hate to say this, because I could stay here with you all night long, my Love! But if we are going to adhere to your rather abominable tradition, we'd better exchange our Wedding gifts now, or I'm not going to be able to leave! I love you as powerfully as the moonlight guiding the tides, and as brilliantly and magically as the millions of stars twinkling over us. You guide me, Lizbeth, to my very best life and you light up my existence so that I see everything in the world around me in a brand-new way, a miraculous way! Always 'dance with me', and I will be the happiest man on earth!"
She cradled his head as best she could, given his height, while her heart just kept spilling over with her love for him.
He wiped her tears, and held on to her hand, kissing it tenderly as they moved to the horses together.
Both retrieved their gifts for each other, as Nathan also grabbed the quilt they had used earlier for their picnic in Rose Valley.
As they moved back onto the dock, he found the best spot, then spread their quilt out, and helped seat his Lizbeth.
"You open mine first," she insisted. "I can't wait till you see it!"
He reached and kissed her cheek, with all the love in him showing through.
Then his face lit with the excitement of a little boy receiving his ultimate gift, the gift of his Bride.
"The package is beautiful, Love!"
"This I insisted on wrapping myself! So, I'm glad you like it!"
He opened it slowly and most carefully, relishing each moment.
"Lizbeth! This is extraordinary! I never dreamed I would ever have a fancy gold watch! It's perfect for marking our time together!"
"Do you love it?"
"I do love it, Darling! You couldn't have gotten me anything I'd love more, except, of course, for you!"
"Look at the inscription, Love!"
"My favorite moments are all with you! Happy Forever, Darling!"
His eyes glistened over as he read the words, he was so touched.
"Likewise! Happy Forever, Darling!" he added.
Their passionate expression of love, combined with the gentle yet ardent touch of their shared lips, captured everything about them in an all-encompassing way, as well as the forever they were about to share.
And all was very well, indeed.
But then it was Nathan's turn to gift his Bride, picking up two beautifully wrapped gifts by his side.
"Let's start with this one!"
"The package is much too exquisite to open, Love!"
"But you must!" he winked.
She carefully removed the silk wrapping in lavender, again her favorite color.
"You always remember my favorites!"
He smiled, as he fully intended to always do just that!
The leather jewelry box, long and slender, was also lavender, but lined with purple velvet.
"Since you are always wanting hints, my Love, here is a huge one. A giveaway, in fact! This is identical to the Wedding band you'll be wearing!"
When she opened the hinged top, she was shocked, for there lay the most beautiful intricate bracelet of tiny diamonds she had ever seen, similar to her engagement band, yet different, and oh so beautiful!
"Oh, Nathan, this is so very beautiful. And my Wedding band looks like this?"
"Exactly like this, Darling! Exactly. I had this custom-made to match it perfectly."
"Now I can't wait to see it, because this is stunning!"
She fell into him, smothering him with kisses!
"I adore it and will wear it always!"
"I'm thrilled, but there's more!" and with a flourish, he handed her the second box which was square shaped, though more of an oblong.
"Ooh, I can't wait," she squealed as she opened the package. "You wrapped both so beautifully, that I hate to open this last one!"
"Now, that, definitely won't do! These belong on you, Elizabeth, or they are nothing at all!"
He watched as her Engagement ring sparkled in the moonlight, as she moved her hand, knowing she would literally be over the moon when she saw what was inside the box.
She took the box from him, excitement filling her face.
Nathan was so stunned with her beauty, the words tumbled breathlessly from his mouth.
"You look so beautiful in the moonlight!"
"If I do, it's because I love you so!" she smiled radiantly.
The quiet moment they shared was apart from Wedding gifts, it was just the two of them under the stars in a place so poignant to them, with all those invisible strings of their past drawing them closer and closer, to finally morph them together as one in mere hours from now.
"We're ready, aren't we?" asked Nathan, needing to hear her thoughts.
"We are so very ready!" she answered, running her fingers down his rugged jawline.
He placed his hand over hers, savoring their special moment, then smiled, pointedly reminding her of the job at hand.
When she finally removed the silk ribbon and beautiful lavender moiré silk wrapping, she squealed delightedly, much too excited to even remove the gorgeous earrings from their box.
"I'm not sure I can do this in the dark," he admitted, but finally loosened them for her.
"You made them identical to my gorgeous Engagement ring! I don't even have words!"
"Well, since my dear great-grandmother supplied the ring, this was the least I could do!"
Then instead of handing the stunning pair of drop earrings to her after she had removed her current earrings, instead, he ever so carefully slipped the gold over platinum hooks into her ears by the light of their lanterns, under her whispered guidance, and with the help of her hand guiding his.
After each successful placement, he gently and most romantically reached to grace her small lobes with a feathery kiss, ever so lightly.
She didn't even know it was possible to feel that kind of attentiveness or the great love that it wrought within her.
Elizabeth reached up tentatively to touch them as though she couldn't believe she was really wearing something so magnificent.
"These are identical to my gorgeous engagement ring! Only you would think to do that. Nathan, I couldn't possibly love them more! They are truly the most exquisite diamond earrings I've ever seen and the largest I've worn since they're complementary to my ring, yet still perfectly so elegant for day or night!"
"They look stunning on you, Love!"
"Now I have my Bridal jewelry. All of it! And I couldn't possibly be more delighted!"
"That makes me happy, but that's not quite all of it! Your mother told me you were wearing her pearl necklace tomorrow, that's why I left the third piece for you to choose yourself on our Honeymoon! Diamond or pearl or a combination thereof. We can even have something designed if you don't find exactly what you want!"
"Oh, Nathan, you are the most thoughtful man I know! And I love you desperately, my Darling, with all my heart and being! Everything could not possibly be more perfect. You, these gifts, this night!"
And as they reached for the other's lips, holding each other tight, they looked up first, instead, smiles widening, to find a brilliant shooting star lighting the heavens just above them.
Which was yet just another exquisite confirmation and verification from God that their epic love story had indeed been indelibly written in the stars long, long ago…
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150-151. "Confirmation vs Verification," the former term is usually used when something is already believed to be true while the latter term is used when there is a doubt about the truth of something. General Public Domain Information.